Political Commission of the People’s Summit toward COP 30 denounces racist violence in Rio de Janeiro and Belém.
Read the statement that connects racist logics of control and security in Rio and in the organization of COP 30 On October 28, 2025, public security forces of the state of Rio de Janeiro carried out a massacre that stands as the deadliest in the history of the state and of Brazil. More than 120 people had their lives taken by an ineffective and racist “war on drugs” project that has proven to be, in reality, a war against poor and Black people. This brutal act exposes the institutional racism embedded in Brazil’s public security institutions. This was yet another racist and media-driven operation that fails to address the root causes of the problem and instead lays bare a state policy oriented toward the deliberate extermination of young Black people and the systematic violation of the rights of impoverished populations, by turning favela residents into enemies to be fought. This violence shows that the climate and social crisis is also a human rights crisis, one that primarily affects Black and peripheral bodies. Such an operation is connected to an international context of imperialist offensives that attempt to impose the stigma of narco-terrorism on Latin America, justifying U.S. interventions that disregard national sovereignty. Through the expansion of military bases, security cooperation agreements and joint operations under the pretext of combating drug trafficking and terrorism, the United States has intensified its military presence in Latin America, perpetuating a logic of geopolitical control that threatens the sovereignty of peoples, criminalizes social movements and legitimizes interventions that have historically served corporate interests in the region. The coordinated response of the far right on social networks and in the media reinforces the Bolsonaro-aligned line that calls for U.S. intervention, handing over our sovereignty to capitalist interests while sacrificing Black bodies, LGBTQIAPN+ people and favela communities. This logic of domination and expropriation of life reflects, in an amplified way, the structural inequality that also manifests itself in environmental crises. Brazil is home to the largest Black population outside the African continent. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE, 2022), more than 56% of the Brazilian population identifies as Black, meaning the sum of Black and Brown people — corresponding to more than 120 million people. This majority has historically been responsible for building the country in cities, in the countryside, in the arts, in economies and in development, even when they do not benefit from it, all through daily resistance to systemic racism. The conflict between organized crime, police forces and militias has imposed a logic of militarization of life on residents of Rio de Janeiro, especially in the favelas. This logic, however, does not make life safer nor does it resolve the deep, everyday problems of a profoundly unequal society. In this context, it is also important to look at the situation in the city of Belém, which is preparing to host the People’s Summit and COP 30. Belém presents a reality distinct from that of Rio de Janeiro, although it shares with it the marks of social inequality, the absence of structural public policies and selective violence. While Rio has historically been shaped by the militarization of favelas, lethal police incursions and the control of factions and militias, in Belém the scenario manifests itself in other ways — with the presence of factions with local operations and connections to national groups, but without the same visibility of urban warfare that characterizes Rio. In recent years, Belém has recorded a reduction in homicide rates, but this does not automatically translate into a sense of security, especially for Black and peripheral youth living in low-lying neighborhoods, who remain the primary targets of state violence. The central difference is that in Belém violence tends to be less spectacularized by the media and less associated with large-scale confrontations, yet it still reflects the same structure of exclusion and racism that runs throughout the country. To comrades who will come to Belém for the People’s Summit, it is important to pay attention to local dynamics and the inequalities that shape the city. Avoid traveling alone at night or in poorly lit areas and try to move in groups whenever possible. Use reliable transportation (well-known ride-hailing apps, cooperative taxis or identified event buses) and avoid displaying valuable objects. Urban violence in Belém, as in other large Brazilian cities, manifests itself in thefts, robberies and localized conflicts that may occur in different areas of the city. It is essential to act with the same care we would take in any capital, respecting territories, local populations and Amazonian cultural dynamics. We reaffirm that our presence here is also a political gesture — one of solidarity and listening to the peoples of the Amazon — and that our safety depends both on individual awareness and on the collective protection we build together. On October 31, the federal government decreed a Law and Order Guarantee (GLO) operation specifically for the state of Pará, focusing on security during the preparatory period and the realization of COP 30 in Belém. The measure authorizes the Armed Forces to carry out patrols, searches and control of civilian areas under the argument of reinforcing public security. Although presented as a protection strategy, this measure concerns us, as historically the militarization of public space has meant increased repression, especially against Black, Indigenous and peripheral bodies. In light of this, we reaffirm that our safety will not come from weapons, but from solidarity and popular organization. We will have an organic security team from social movements, made up of experienced militants committed to protecting our spaces and participants, as well as a popular legal advisory team on duty throughout all days of the Summit. These structures will ensure permanent monitoring of any situation of risk, abuse of authority or violation of rights. We will remain attentive, firm and organized, because our presence in Belém is an act of resistance and defense of life — the life of peoples, forests and the Amazon. In this sense, the solidarity
Social organizations release letter in support of the struggle of indigenous peoples in Pará for education
Movements denounce brutality on the part of the Government of Pará and demand dialogue with indigenous mobilization. Photo: @joaopaulofotografia from @casaninjaamazonia Over 100 organizations, including popular movements, unions, NGOs, forums, and networks from across the country, have released a letter in support of the struggle of indigenous peoples, including Borari, Munduruku, Tembé, Xikrim, and Arapium, who have occupied the headquarters of the State Secretariat of Education of Pará in Belém for three days, protesting against the changes in the Modular Organization System of Education (Some) that modify indigenous school education. They demand the repeal of Law 10.820/2024, passed in December 2024 without prior consultation with indigenous peoples, impacting the teaching profession in Pará, and consequently, indigenous education. The letter denounces the violence faced during the occupation in recent days, such as the cutting of water and electricity supplies to the building, the prohibition of entry of food, water, press coverage, and justice institutions. For the signatories, this denotes a “broader political project to dismantle the State and inclusive public policies in favor of agribusiness, mining companies, logging companies, and climate merchants, among other powerful groups” by the Government of the State of Pará. Another point raised is the lack of dialogue from the State Government, particularly from Governor Helder Barbalho. “It is not possible to hold the COP of the Forest while violating the essential rights of the peoples who protect the forest,” the organizations assert. Read the full letter here: MANIFESTO INDIGENA EN
Statement of Condemnation – Government of Pará Must Respect Indigenous Rights
The Cúpula dos Povos publicly expresses its strongest condemnation of the violent and authoritarian way in which the Government of Pará is treating Indigenous peoples who approached the State Department of Education (Seduc) to request a review of the decision to abolish the Modular Education System. Around two hundred leaders were subjected to police encirclement, pepper spray in restrooms, cuts to electricity and water, and confinement inside the government building. Is this how our guardians of the forests, rivers, and air are treated in Belém, the host city of COP 30? In solidarity with the Munduruku, Tembé, Xikrim, Borari, Arupim peoples, and other ethnic groups actively engaged in the struggle to preserve Indigenous education in the state, the Cúpula dos Povos joins the protest against the disastrous proposal of the Government of Pará and reaffirms its commitment to defending Indigenous education, culture, and rights. We deeply regret the government’s failure to listen to the leaders and representatives of the affected communities. So far, there has been no contact from the heads of Seduc or the State Secretariat for Indigenous Peoples. This stance demonstrates that the government is choosing a management style that fuels conflict. Beyond the violence, the government disrespects the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, treating Indigenous peoples as if their demands were not legitimate. The imposition of solutions such as television-based education, without considering the realities of the villages, is proof of total disregard for the quality of education that Indigenous peoples demand. Families were also not consulted regarding carbon credit negotiations. The Cúpula dos Povos stands in solidarity with Indigenous leaders and demands that the government immediately cease hostilities, reopen dialogue, and respect the rights of Indigenous peoples. We will not accept violence and authoritarianism prevailing once again. Cúpula dos Povos Rumo à COP 30January 14, 2025